Hopper and check



May 12, 1931. F. HUMMER 1,804,788

HOPPER AND CHECK b Filed Feb. 25, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a/ i f3 /6 l u Patented May l2, 1931 UNITE vsrarss FREDERICK IKUlVIll/IEIR.,l yOLE" MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOB TO KERNER IN- CINERATOR GGMPANY, A. CORFORATION GF VlSZONSINv HOPPER AND CHECK' Application filed February 25, 1928. Serial No. 256,951.

n rlhis invention relates to hoppers and 'checks and'has for an object to provide such a combination in which a hopper or similar closure may freely move to and from closing Vposition and be checked and.- thereby silenced as it approaches the limit' of travel in either direction.

Gther objects and advantages will be more fully set forth and appear in the following specification. (lne embodiment of my invention is illustrated inthe accompanying drawings in which- Figure l is a vertical section through a flue or duct illustrating a hopperand check installed therein. n

Figure 2 is a vertical section drawn to an enlarged scale through the check portion of the hopper and casing.

Figure 3 is anirregular section along the line 3-3 of Figure 2. l

Figure 4 is a section along the line 4 4 of Figure 2. y

Like numerals refer to like elements throughout the drawings. f

10 indicates .generally a duct having the walls 10a, in one of which is provided `an opening 10". In this opening is mounted a rectangular frame or casing 11, havingthe outwardly and upwardly extending flange 50 11, and the side flanges 11b at the' lower portion of which is provided an ear 11C. A pintle `12extends between such ears and on this pintle is rotatably mounted a closure member i3, having a handle 14. Bosses 13? project from the inner face of the closure 13, and secured thereto is the'front wall 15EL of a hopper 15 of conventional construction,

The upper edge 13h of the closure 13 is extended slightly beyond the hopper 15 to contact with the upper flange 11g of the frame v 11 when in closed position, as'illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

The bottom of thejcasing is provided with a cylinder or reservoir 11d to which leads a filling duct 11e' normallyclosed by the plug 11f (see Fig. 2 for example). Reciprocably mounted inthe ohamber'or reservoir 11d is a plunger 16 having the internal recess or chamber -16a shouldered at 16h.

A'f-'duct orpassage 16C- leadsfrom the vrecess 16a through the top otthe plunger 16. A by-pass 16e`of relatively small cross-section is provided in one side of the plunger through the greater portion ofits length but terminating short of the top to communicate with a cross duct 16f of larger sectional area, this latter duct 16f leading to the passage 16C. An adjusting set screw 18 is threaded into the top of the plunger' 16 and may be projected more or less into the cross duct 16i to vary the effective sectionalarea thereof for a purpose hereinafter described.

ln the lower portion of the chamber 16L is provided a coiled compression spring 20, which bears against the disk 21 at its upper end, and the bottom of the chamber or reservoir 11d at its lower end. A ball check 22 is mounted between the disk 21 and the top o1 the chamber 16a being of 'less diameter than the portion of the chamber in which it is confined. The passage 16C atits lower end isprovided with a seat 16g against which the ball 22 may be moved to `close such passage.

The disk 21 is normally held against the shoulderj16" bythe spring 20, and is pro vided kwith the noncircular opening 21a therethrough, which is so constructed as to be` partially but not entirely closed by the ball `22 in' the position illustrated in Fig. 2or example.

At the top of. the reservoir or chamber 111 is provided the gland cap 25, secured to the frame 11 byscrews 26 or the like. This 'cap 25 projects downwardly into the reservoir 1l, and 'is provided with the portion 2 0 of areduced diameter. `A coiled compression spring 27 is mounted in the upper portion or' the chamber 11@l around the cap portion 25Ct as illustrated in Fig. 2.

A; pin 30 is slidably mounted in the cap "25 and is of such length as to extend over the" plunger .16, ywhen the latter is in its lowermost position, through and beyond the cap `.25. At its lower end is provided a cross-pin 30 and a similar crosspin 30b is provided atits upper end. Thehopper 15 Vat the bottom carries an impact pad 32 of any suitable material so located as to strike or impinge upon the I'upper end of the rod SO when the hopper approaches closing position. A chain or other flexible member 34 is secured to the bottom of the hopper at one end, and at its other end to the crosspin 30".

In the operation of the mechanism and apparatus described above, the closure 13 may be moved to or toward open position until the center of gravity of the closure 13 has passed over the vert-ical plane through the pintle 12 when the closureand hopper may be released and the Weight of the same will move them to open position illustrated in Fig. 1. As full open position is approached and the chain 34.- fully eX- tenced, it Will move With the rod 30 until the cross-pin 3()a strikes the spring 27, or if the 4spring ybe traveling therewith, until the spring strikes the cap The spring will then cushion the final opening movement oit' the closure .and hopper. Then the weightV of the hopper and door are lifted `from .the rod 30 during the opening movement, the compression spring Q0 will clongate and force the plunger 16 upward y to the position illustrated in Fig. 1. During this movement the oil or other .medium in the reservoir 11d W-ill flow With comparative freedom through the ypassage 16c around the ball check 22 through .the opening 21a lin the disk 21 into the bottom of the reservoir. A certain amount of flow Will also be permitted through the cross passage 16? and the by-pass 16e. The arrangement and size of .this passage and opening are such as to permit comparatively easy movement of the plunger 16 in such direction.

Then the hopper and closure are closed they may be moved by hand until the center of gravity passes over the plane through the pintle 12, or until the pad 32 strikes the top rod 30. The Weight of the hopper and closure Will then move the rod 30 downwardly, and such movement. will be transmitted to the plunger 16. As soon as'the latter starts to move the ball 22.is movedA against the seat 16g and theV oil or other medium entrapped beneath the plunger 16 is forced to escape through the vby-pass 16? and cross passage 16f. These, being of relatively less cross-sectional area, restrict the How of the oil, and With thevcoiled spring 20, check or retard the iinal closing movement of the door and hopper, as will be apparent.

The device illustrated yand described is particularly adaptable for use with incinerators or `in other locations VWhere a com- -monduct or chute .may serve for a plurality of apartments, in that it will check and cushion the. final movement of the door and hopper toward opening or closing position and thereby greatlyl reduce or eliminate the' noise resulting from the freecontact which has hitherto :been had.

Should the oil or other medium in the reservoir 11d require replenishing or replacement, this may readily be done through the opening 11B, the open end of which is located beneath the level of the fluid and therefore is not .subjected to leakage,

The check means, being located in the frame or casing, may be readily assembled, tested and adjusted before installation of the fhopper and closure, vand in .this manner a self-contained, compact device is obtained.

The lieXible chain 34 or other flexible connecting means permits free and unrestrained movement of the hopper through the greater portion of the movement to and shown and described, except as defined inV the appended claims.

Vhat I claim is:

1. In combination with a chute or the like having an openingin a Wall thereof, a .hopper member mounted in said opening -and movable to andV from open and closed positions, and yielding means .connected to saidhopper and a Wall of said chute to check the hopper as it .approaches either'. vof said positions While permittino ment of said hopper intermediate its terminal approaches.

2. In combination 4with a vchute or the like having van opening inY a- Wall t'hereoi, a hopper member mounted in said opening and movable .to and from open and closed positions, yielding check means constructed vand arrangedfto check said hopper as it approaches open or closed position, .and a flexible means operatively connecting said hopper to said check means and permitting free movement of said vhopper throughout the .greater portion of said movement.

. 3 YA ,frame -member having an opening Itherein and mountable in yan openinef, a hopper pivoted 1n lsaid frame and movable between ,positions opening and closing said Vframe opening., and yielding means connected toV said frame and said hopper lto check said hopper vas it lapproaches said open and closed positions while permitting Efree movementof Vsaid `hopper intermediate its vapproaches to open and closed positions.

4. ,A frame having an opening therethrough, a `closure member mounted in said frame .to open and close said opening, a hopper carried `by said closure member, Va yieldingoheck means `carried by said frame, and means :operatively lcmnecting said free mov'evIl() hopper and closure to said check means to 'check the same as they approach either an open or closed position While permitting free movement thereof Lintermediate their terminal approaches.

5. A frame having an opening therethrough, a closure member mounted in said frame to open and close said opening, a hopper car ied by said closure member, a yielding` check means carried by said trame, and means operatively connecting said hopper and closure to said check means, said last named means comprising a flexible member permitting unrestrained movement of said hopper and closure throughout the greater portion ot' its movement to and from open and closed position.

6. In combination, a trame member hav ing an opening therethrough, a closure and hopper movably mounted in said frame, said 'iii-ame being provided. with a reservoir, a plunger therein, means to resist movement oi said plunger in said reservoir, and an actuating member extending from said plunger outside of said reservoir and impacted by said hopper as the latter approaches one limit ot travel, and flexible means connecting the hopper and actuating member whereby said hopper Will be resisted by said plunger during its final movement in either direction.

7. In combination, a frame member having an opening therethrough, a closure and hopper movably mounted in said frame, said trame being provided With a reservoir, a plunger therein, means to resist movement of said plunger in said reservoir, an actuating member extending from said plunger' outside ot said reservoir and impacted by said hopper as the latter approaches one limit of travel, whereby said hopper will be resisted by said plunger during its final closing movement, a flexible member connecting said hopper and said actuating menr ber, and means to resist movement of said actuating member by said flexible member as said hopper approaches its other limit of travel.

8. In combination with a chute or the like having an opening in a Wall thereof, a y

hopper member mountedL in said opening and movable to and from open and closed positions, and means coactmg With said hopper to check the same as it approaches l member projecting from outside said cylinder thereinto to Contact with and moveV said plunger toward said end of said cylinder.

9. In combination with a chute or the like having an opening in a Wall thereof,

a hopper member mounted in said openingv and movable to and from open and closed positions, and means coacting With lsaid hopper to checlr the same as its approaches either of said positions; said checking means comprising a cylinder and a plunger reciprocable therein, a cap closing one end of said cylinder, said plunger being' provided with an internal chamber and a passage ot relatively large size leading there from through said plunger, said plunger being provided with a second restricted paslli) am.. 11D 

